Intel Core i9-12900T vs Intel Core Ultra 5 245T Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data splits these two processors into distinct personalities. The Intel Core i9-12900T wins exactly three tests, while the Intel Core Ultra 5 245T takes fourteen. That asymmetry tells the story: the newer chip wins almost everywhere, but the older one holds specific advantages that matter for certain workloads.

The i9-12900T dominates in data compression with a score of 345021, which is 21.6% ahead of the Ultra 5 245T's 283812. It also leads in integer math at 108211 versus 88676 for the Ultra 5 245T, a 22% advantage. The third win comes in random string sorting at 39771, which beats the Ultra 5 245T's 34931 by 13.9%. These are all throughput-oriented tasks where raw core count and cache hierarchy matter more than architectural efficiency.

The Ultra 64.2% win in prime number calculation, scoring 324 versus 116, is the largest single-test margin in either direction. The Ultra 5 245T also shows a 30.2% lead in floating point math at 108499 against 75741, and a 20.5% edge in physics at 2278 versus 1811. These wins point to workloads that favor the newer architecture's efficiency per clock.

The Ultra's multithreaded performance wins are consistent across every Cinebench release tested. The R15 multicore score of 2641 beats 2472, and the gap stays around 6.4% in R20 at 11007 versus 10301, and R23 at 26208 versus 24528. The single-core results follow the same pattern, with the Ultra leading by 6.5% in R15 at 372 versus 348, 6.4% in R20 at 1553 versus 1454, and 6.4% in R23 at 3699 versus 3462.

Data encryption is another Ultra win at 23656 against 20750, a 12.3% margin. The 4% difference in multithreaded performance at 30833 versus 29601 rounds out the overall picture. The Ultra's average benchmark score of 38194 places it in the 86th percentile of all CPUs, one point ahead of the i9-12900T's 85th percentile and 37112 average.

Architecture Differences

The architecture gap is generational and profound. The i9-12900T is built on Alder Lake, a 10nm Intel process with a die size of 20 lanes of PCIe lanes. The Ultra 5 245T moves to Arrow Lake, fabricated on TSMC 3nm process with 17,800 million transistors on a 243 mm squared die size. The foundry change alone matters. Intel built the i9-12900T at 10nm at 215 mm squared, but the Ultra shifts production to TSMC 3nm at 243 mm squared with 17,800 million transistors. It is physically larger but dramatically more efficient.

Core counts diverge significantly. The i9-12200T offers 16 cores and 24 threads, while the Ultra 5 245T provides 14 cores and 14 threads. that thread count difference (24 threads versus 14 threads for the Ultra) explains why the i9-12900T can still win integer and compression tests with fewer threads total performance per core, the Ultra makes up for fewer threads with better per-thread throughput, achieving 4367 in single-threaded tests versus the i9's 3810, a 12.8% lead in the same test.

Cache layouts are completely different per core. The i9-12900T has 80 KB L1 per core, 1.25 MB L2 per core, 30 MB shared L3, and the Ultra has 192 KB L1 per core, 3 MB L2 per core, 24 MB shared L3. The larger per-core levels in the Ultra (192 KB L1 and 3 MB L2 versus 80 KB and 1.25 MB) feed its higher single-core clock of 5.10 GHz versus 4.90 GHz boost clock. The i9-12900T compensates with 30 MB shared L3 against 24 MB, which supports its data compression advantage.

Memory support differs completely. The i9-12900T supports DDR4 and DDR5, while the Ultra 5 245T supports DDR5 only, with a documented memory bandwidth of 102.4 GB/s. The i9 has no listed memory bandwidth in the data. Both use dual-channel memory and Gen 5, 20 Lanes CPU only PCIe. ECC memory is supported only on the Ultra 5 245T. The i9-12900T offers an unlocked multiplier, while the Ultra 5 245T is locked. The i9-12900T uses UHD Graphics 770, the Ultra 5 245T uses Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU.

The platform changes socket. The i9-12900T uses Intel Socket 1700, the Ultra 5 245T uses Intel Socket 1851. The i9-12900T is unlocked, the Ultra 5 245T is not. The i9-12900T launched in January 2022 with a launch MSRP of $489. The Ultra 5 245T launched in January 2025 with a launch MSRP of $270.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The biggest win for the Ultra 5 245T in the recorded data is prime number calculation. It scores 324 against 116, a 64.2% gap. This is a massive swing and the single largest delta in the entire test set. For workloads that hammer integer prime generation, the newer architecture is in another class.

Floating point math also heavily favors the Ultra. The score of 108499 versus 75741 is a 30.2% advantage. Physics tests show a 20.5% lead at 2278 versus 1811. These two results together indicate the Ultra 5 245T has a much stronger FPU pipeline than the i9-12900T. Single-thread performance confirms the pattern: 4367 versus 3810, a 12.8% margin. Data encryption follows at 23656 versus 20750, a 12.3% lead.

The Ultra wins every Cinebench test by roughly the same margin. R15 multicore is 2641 versus 2472, 6.4%. R15 singlecore is 372 versus 348, 6.5%. R20 multicore is 11007 versus 10301, 6.4%. R20 singlecore is 1553 versus 1454, 6.4%. R23 multicore is 26208 versus 24528, 6.4%. R23 singlecore is 3699 versus 3462, 6.4%. The consistency of that 6.4% gap across all three Cinebench versions and both single and multi-core tests is notable. It suggests the architectural IPC gain is uniform across render workloads.

The i9-12900T wins are narrower in percentage terms but meaningful for specific tasks. Data compression at 345021 versus 283812 is a 21.6% lead. Integer math at 108211 versus 88676 is a 22% lead. Random string sorting at 39771 versus 34931 is a 13.9% lead. These three wins share a common theme: they benefit from the i9-12900T's higher thread count and larger shared cache. The i9-12900T has 24 threads versus 14 and 30 MB L3 versus 24 MB, and that combination wins in these particular workloads despite losing the overall average score.

The multithreaded benchmark, at 30833 versus 29601, is only a 4% win for the Ultra. That is the smallest positive margin for the Ultra and shows that raw thread count keeps the i9-12900T competitive in aggregate throughput even though the Ultra wins the test. The overall average benchmark score, 38194 for the Ultra versus 37112 for the i9-12900T, places the Ultra in the 86th percentile versus the i9-12900T's 85th percentile.

FAQ

Q: Which processor wins more benchmark tests?

A: The Intel Core Ultra 5 245T wins 14 of the 17 head-to-head tests. The Intel Core i9-12900T wins 3 tests.

Q: Where does the i9-12900T beat the Ultra 5 245T?

A: The i9-12900T wins in data compression (345021 versus 283812, 21.6% ahead), integer math (108211 versus 88676, 22% ahead), and random string sorting (39771 versus 34931, 13.9% ahead).

Q: How much faster is the Ultra 5 245T in single-threaded workloads?

A: The Ultra 5 245T scores 4367 in the single-thread PassMark test versus 3810 for the i9-12900T, a 12.8% advantage.

Q: What is the largest benchmark margin between the two?

A: The Ultra 5 245T wins prime number calculation by 64.2%, scoring 324 versus 116 for the i9-12900T.

Q: Do the Cinebench results show a consistent pattern?

A: Yes. The Ultra 5 245T wins all six Cinebench tests (R15, R20, and R23, each in single and multicore) by approximately 6.4% in every case.

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The i9-12900T has 16 cores and 24 threads. The Ultra 5 245T has 14 cores and 14 threads.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear recommendation for most users: the Intel Core Ultra 5 245T is the better all-around processor. It wins 14 of 17 tests, has a higher average benchmark score at 38194 versus 37112, and sits in the 86th percentile compared to the i9-12900T's 85th. The single-thread lead of 12.8%, the floating point lead of 30.2%, and the prime number lead of 64.2% all point to a fundamentally more capable architecture per core.

The i9-12900T remains the pick only for workloads that specifically match its strengths. If the workload is data compression, integer math, or string sorting, the i9-12900T is ahead by 21.6%, 22%, and 13.9% respectively. These are not niche areas, but they are specific enough that most users will not prioritize them over the Ultra's broad dominance.

The i9-12900T compensates with 24 threads, 30 MB shared L3, and support for DDR4 in addition to DDR5. That flexibility matters for builders reusing older memory. The Ultra 5 245T requires DDR5 and a new Socket 1851 platform, but it offers ECC memory support and a documented 102.4 GB/s memory bandwidth. The i9-12900T is unlocked, the Ultra 5 245T is not, so overclocking favors the older chip.

For a new build, the Ultra 5 245T is the stronger choice based on the benchmark record. For a specific compression or integer-heavy workload, or for someone with an existing Socket 1700 platform and DDR4 memory, the i9-12900T still holds a measurable edge in those three tests. The overall average score difference is only 2.9% in favor of the Ultra, but the breadth of wins is decisive.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Core i9-12900T | Intel Core Ultra 5 245T |

|---|---|---|

| Cores | 16 | 14 |

| Threads | 24 | 14 |

| Base clock | 1400.00 MHz | 2.20 GHz |

| Boost clock | 4.90 GHz | 5.10 GHz |

| TDP | 35 W | 65 W |

| Socket | Intel Socket 1700 | Intel Socket 1851 |

| Architecture | Alder Lake | Arrow Lake |

| Process node | 10 nm | 3 nm |

| Foundry | Intel | TSMC |

| Die size | 215 mm² | 243 mm² |

| Transistors | Not listed | 17,800 million |

| L1 cache | 80 KB (per core) | 192 KB (per core) |

| L2 cache | 1.25 MB (per core) | 3 MB (per core) |

| L3 cache | 30 MB (shared) | 24 MB (shared) |

| Memory support | DDR4, DDR5 | DDR5 |

| Memory bandwidth | Not listed | 102.4 GB/s |

| ECC memory | No | Yes |

| Integrated graphics | UHD Graphics 770 | Arc Xe-LPG Graphics 64EU |

| Multiplier unlocked | Yes | No |

| Launch MSRP | $489 | $270 |

| Release date | January 2022 | January 2025 |